Spirituality is one prime reason for people across the nation, as well as world, to head to the holy city. In addition to that, tourism is yet another prime reason. It can be said that the city and the hotels in Dwarkanever go vacant of tourists and devotees. Being a religious site, simply duty-bounds the city to celebrate the religious festivities with great fervour and enthusiasm. Nonetheless, it is the pious belief of the locals and the allure of the festivities that simply makes everyone in the city to indulge into celebrations.
Of the various important religious sites, a major must-visit site in the city is the Somnath Temple. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. It is believed that being very pleased by the prayers of the Hindu Moon God, Lord Shiva decided to rest in the temple in the form of a Jyotirlinga. The temple represents one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of the lord. An interesting fact to know about the temple; over the different phases of time the temple got destroyed and rebuilt, in total it is six times! Hence, giving it the epithet of “The Shrine Eternal”. The last construction of the temple was done under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; the rebuild was started in 1947. Today the place where the temple stands is known as Prabhas Kshetra, Veraval; a place located in the western coast of the Gujarat state.
Another major religious site in Dwarka is the Dwarkadish Temple. Otherwise, referred as Jagat Temple, the temple was built in the 16th century. It is a beautiful five storied temple that is made up of sand and limestone. Today, it stands right in the middle of the city and is easy visible from a distance. In fact, a sight of the beautiful temple, which is surrounded by small structures and patches of greenery, looks magnificent only from a distance. It is believed that the temple was originally built by the grandson of the Lord Kirshna, King Vajranabha. Other than being a religious site with immense importance, the temple is also a major attraction amongst the tourists visiting the city. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Dwarkaand almost every guide in the city has it in his itineraries.
Simply put, Dwarka is one of the major religious destinations in the country, and is home to large masses of pilgrims. It is also a fine destination for those who are more inclined towards religion and history. Head to this iconic religious city to spend a holiday that you'll cherish for quite long.